Launched by the national charity DFN Project SEARCH in 2022, this annual campaign aims to raise awareness of Supported Internships among employers, educators, young people, and their families. This year’s theme is "Building the Bridge – Bridging the Gap Between Education and Employment." A supported internship is a structured, work-based study programme for young people with special educational needs, combining on-the-job learning with employers and classroom learning with an education provider.
Working closely with education partners such as Sandfield Park School, the Bluecoat is connecting with individuals undertaking Supported Internships as part of the Studio Blue Sky strand of our new Young Blue Room programme. This builds upon our longstanding Blue Room programme and decades of inclusive practice, supporting learning-disabled and neurodivergent adults to develop as artists.
As an enrichment to their Supported Internship, young people can spend time in our studio at the Bluecoat, receive tailored support to identify career goals, create artwork and build a portfolio. With support from our experienced Studio Facilitator and access to mentoring with arts professionals, young people can develop skills, knowledge and confidence to explore creative career pathways. Assisted by Job Coaches, Supported Interns also gain hands-on experience of professional roles within the arts, tailored to their individual interests.
To celebrate National Supported Internship Day, we want to spotlight Chloe Farricker, our first young artist to engage with the new project.
Joining us at the Bluecoat back in January, we learnt that Chloe was interested in creating her own greeting card collection. Studio Facilitator Becky Peach and Job Coach Jess Bradley supported Chloe in co-designing her 12-week placement in creative and professional development.
In the studio, Chloe has explored design and composition, creating a playful collection of card designs and her own logo reflecting her love of colour and animals. She teamed up with Graphic Designer Mark Simmonds for a hands-on masterclass in Risograph printing at Play, Play, Play Press in Birkenhead. As well as getting inky hands, Chloe is exploring the practical aspects of starting a creative business, including marketing, production, and pricing. Chloe is getting ready to launch her new card collection on the Blue Room stall at the Liverpool Print Fair on Saturday, 25 April.
Reflecting on their time working alongside each other in the studio, Facilitator Becky Peach shared, ‘Chloe is a driven artist with a radiant personality. Her mission has been clear since day one: to create art that spreads genuine joy. In pursuit of this, she has fearlessly embraced new mediums from screen-printing to surreal collage. Her ambition has resulted in a beautiful collection of greeting cards that are sure to brighten anyone’s day.’
‘’I feel I’ve grown in confidence since starting my placement. I’ve enjoyed putting my card designs together, collaging and drawing using the light box. I enjoyed my trip to play.play.play studio too. I had fun using the machines there- the printer, guillotine and creaser. I enjoyed seeing my cards come together.’’
As part of her placement, Chloe has also worked alongside our Visitor Experience team to learn about how we welcome visitors to the gallery and help people to engage with the art and ideas in our exhibitions. Team members fed back that Chloe was confident in the role and a natural at customer service.
Blue Room Manager Becky Waite said, ‘It has been a joy to welcome Chloe to the Bluecoat as part of our Young Blue Room programme. We’re excited for this next chapter of our inclusive arts practice, focusing on supporting accessible pathways to working in the arts. We’re looking forward to connecting with the artists and creatives of the future.
Do you support a young person who is interested in developing their creative skills and learning more about working in the arts? We are interested in hearing from education and training providers currently working with young people as part of their Support Internships or other work-based training programmes.
To find out more about upcoming placement opportunities, please contact Blue Room Manager Becky Waite at blueroom@thebluecoat.org.uk
Young Blue Room is made possible with generous funding from the Health Lottery Foundation.